Moments in Social Impact: December Edition

Mayor Nutter and Premal Shah, president of Kiva.org (the nonprofit that launched the platform) announced the launch of Kiva Zip Philadelphia in December. The initiative is a collaboration between city government, the philanthropic sector as well as a range of community organizations to support the use of Kiva Zip in Philadelphia.W/N W/N Cafe also became the first Kiva Zip funded business in Philly.Image via Kiva.org

Columbia Field, just off Cecil B. Moore Avenue between 10th and 11th streets, was promised a new field after the Blackhawks youth football team won the National Pop Warner Pee Wee Championship in 2010. Six different funders from across the city worked together to finally make it happen.Photo by Alex Vuocolo

Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, a membership organization comprised of over 150 regional funders, named Maari Porter as its next executive director. Porter previously served as the City of Philadelphia’s chief grants officer and as the executive director of the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia.

Rosa's Fresh Pizza started its pay-it-forward $1 slice program, known as Little Rosas, seven months ago. The program allows customers to purchase prepaid slices for individuals in need, and Rosa's has received over $8,500 in prepaid slices since the program's inception.Image by Mary Anna Rodabaugh

Whole Foods, a supermarket chain that sources local and organic food, held a fundraiser in December to benefit Ready, Willing & Able, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and job opportunities to formerly homeless men. Much of the funds raised will go towards its Culinary Arts program, which prepares men for entering the service industry.Image via Ready, Willing & Able

One of our own, Alex Vuocolo, and a team of dedicated bike enthusiasts completed a successful Indiegogo campaign to begin publishing a free quarterly magazine that will take a deep look at the politics, infrastructure and culture of cycling as it affects ordinary Philadelphians who bike.

The Moore-Bonfante family became the 179th family to purchase a safe, affordable home through Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. On December 15, they were welcomed to their energy-efficient LEED Gold home in Point Breeze, just in time for Christmas, after 350 Sweat Equity hours performed by the whole family.

At their grantmaking ceremony in December, 13 members of the YOUTHadelphia board, the teenage advisory committee of The Philadelphia Foundation’s Fund for Children, awarded $50,000 to youth-serving nonprofits.